Supporting device



June 2, 1953 w. A. BEDFORD, JR 2,640,672

SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed Nov. 24, 1948 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM A. BEDFQRDJR.

" \YmLJ/ ATTORN EY.

Patented June 2, 1953 SUPPORTING DEVICE William A. Bedford, Jr., North Scituate, Mass., assignor to United-Carr Fastener Corporation, Cambridge, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application November 24, 1948, Serial No. 61,882

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to shelf supports, and has particular reference to a shelf support which may b inserted into an opening in a supporting wall for locking engagement therein.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved shelf support for refrigerators and the like which is adapted to be assembled in a refrigerator wall when access may be had to one side of the wall only.

A further object of the invention is to provide a shelf support comprising wall-engagin members and a shelf-supporting rod which operates in part to support a shelf and in part to effect a greater rigidity in the wall-engaging members.

Other objects and uses of the invention will be apparent from inspection of the specification and claims hereinafter set forth.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a view in elevation, partly in section, of a shelf support embodying the features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the component parts of the device illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of the device of Fig, 1 as viewed from the right of the figure;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the device in final assembly with a. support; and

Fig. 5 is a view in elevation, partly in section, of the device illustrating a method of assembling in an opening in a supporting wall.

Referring to the drawing, there is illustrated a shelf support [0 adapted for insertion into an opening l2 in a supporting wall l4. The shelf support I0 comprises a shelf supporting rod l6, having a flange l8 intermediate a hook-shaped shelf-supporting portion and an opposite end portion 22. An attaching member 24, comprises a base element 26 having an opening 28 disposed therein is mounted against the flange IS on the side nearest the end portion 22. To prevent rotation of the attaching member 24, the end portion 22 of the rod l6 may be provided with a noncircular portion 21 adjacent the flange H3, in which case the opening 28 will be of a corresponding shape to enable th base element 26 of the attaching member 24 to be disposed thereonain nonrotative assembly. An attaching cap 3|]..having an opening 32 receiving the rod 46 therein :is mounted against the flange [8 on the side nearest the-hook-shaped portion 20 of the rod- 16. The cap preferably has a dished porthe attaching cap and the attaching member along the rod.

The attaching member 24 also providesa wallengaging element 38 attached to the upper portion of the base element 26 and a resilient element 40 attached to the lower portion of the base element 26. The wall-engaging element has an outwardly extending portion 42 attached to the base element 26 a predetermined distance from the opening 28, and an upwardly extending portion 44 forming a shoulder 46 which is spaced from the base element 26 a predetermined dis-, tance to receive a section of the supporting wall l4 therebetween. An end portion 48 extends downwardly from the shoulder 46 toward the end portion 22 of the supporting rod l6. shown-in Fig, 1, the end-portion 48 does not normally touch the rod l6, but is disposed adjacent the rod for support thereby when the shelf support is in assembled position in a supporting wall opening, as Willbe described in more-detail hereinafter.

The resilient element 40 is attached at one en to the lower portion of the base element 26 a predetermined distance from the opening 28,. and extends downwardly therefrom forming a shoulder 50 and then upwardly to provide an inclined camming portion 52 whichenables the resilient element 40 tosna into engagement with an edge of the supporting wall [6.

tion 22 for engagement with the end portion 22 to provide .for a stiffer spring action during insertion of the shelf support into the opening [2 in the supporting wall M. A locking tab 56 integral. with the inclined portion 52 of the element 40 extends downwardly from the resilient element 40 preferably in substantially the plane of the inclined portion 42.

The method of assembling the device into the. opening I2 in the supporting wall I4 is best illustrated by Fig. 5. The wall-engaging element 38 is inserted into the opening so that the The free end 540i. the element 40 is disposed adjacent the end pore.

The free end portion 58,0f. the tab is spaced from the base element 26 and 3 shoulder 46 engages the inner surface 60 of the wall [4. Pressure is then applied to the lower portion of the shelf support causing the resilient element 40 to contract a sufilcient distance toward the supporting rod IE to allow the shoulder 50 of the element 40 to pass through the wall opening 12 after which the resilient member will spring back into position to dispose the shoulder 50 behind the inner surface 60 of the wall. At the same time the tab 56, which contracts slight.- ly during movement of the element All throu h the aperture l2, expands to engage the inner surface 60 and lock the resilient element in the opening. During such attachment, the edge of the supporting wall l4 bears against the outward-.

1y extending portion 42 of the wall-engaging element 38 forcing the wall-engaging element 38 downwardly so that the end portion 48 of the leg rests on the end portion 22 of the rod l6, and is thereby provided with vertical support. This actionwhereby the end portion 48. is movedinto engagement with the portion 22 of the rod 16 during attachment of the fastener, is controlled by the distance between the elements 38.- and. 40 which. is normally greater than the corresponding distance across the opening l2. In final at,- tachment theoperation of the attaching elements 88. and 40, draws the cap: 36 tightly adjacent the outer surface 62 of the wall Hi. If desired, a washer 64 may be assembled with the attaching member 24: ina way to seal the space between the curled rim 36 and the panel l4 when the parts are assembled,

A downward force applied to the hook-shaped shelf-supporting portion or the rod it effects stresses onthe lower portion ofthe base element 26. in the direction of the outer face 62 of the supporting wall M- and results in the shoulder 46; of the wall-engaging element 38 being pulled. against the face 60 of the supporting wall Hi. This force tends to bend the wall-engaging element 38. downwardly, to engage the free end 4:8;01" the element 38' with the end portion 22 of, the rod.. By thisaction-the element 38is stifiened and rocking forcestending to disengage the element 38.- are. resisted.

It willbe considered that certain modifications ofi the-device are possible within the scope of the invention. The attaching cap Bllmay be secured to the base element by any convenient means other=than the attaching rim 36.. For example, the attaching cap may have punched out tabs, turned. inwardly to engage the base member through. suitable openings therein.

Although the attaching capisdesirable to provide: a neat appearance to the device, it may be omitted entirely in. some applications, in which case theflange maysalso be omitted, and the base element of'theattaching member may be secured directly to the shelf supporting rod. If. it is desiredto have the device readily removable, the tab 56 maybe-omitted, in which case the device may be removed by a disengaging force applied to the lower portion of the base element 26.

Although my invention is especially adapted foruse in. refrigerators, it is not limited thereto, as. there are many other applications. where the device could be used advantageously.

Since certainchanges may be made inthe device without departing from. the scope of the invention, itis intended that all matter contained.

herein'beinterpreted. in an. illustrative and not in; a limiting sense.

Iclaimr.

l. A shelf: support for refrigerators and; the

'4 like for insertion into an opening of a supporting wall for locking engagement therein, the support omprising a shelf-supporting rod having an outer shelf supporting portion and an opposite inner portion, said rod having a flange element intermediate the ends thereof, an attaching member including a base elementhaving a rod-receiving opening therein mounted" against the flange on the opposite inner end portion of the rod, an attaching cap having a rod-receiving opening therein mounted against the flange intermediate the outer and inner portions of the rod, means for securing the attaching cap to the base element of the attaching member, and resilient arms extendingfrom said base element in the direction of the inner portion of said rod for engagement behind. said wall through said opening whereby said support is secured to said wall, one of said arms providing a curved portion for hooking engagement behind said Wall and having its free end directed toward but. normally spacedfrom. said rod: to provide means for limiting: movement ofsaid arms upon mounting said shelf support in such opening, and another of said arms'on a side of said rod opposite said one arm having adjacent said base element an outwardly extending portion for snap fastener engagement with anedge of said opening. and at its free end an angularly inwardly directed portion for. resilient sliding camming engagement. with the edge of such wall opening.

2. A shell support comprising. a. supportingmember having; an annular flange, an apertured disc-like attaching member adapted tel mounted. on said supporting member in, contact with one side of said annular flange, an apertured cap member adapted to bemounted, on said sup porting member in contact with the opposite-side of said annular flange, means for attaching. the

cap member and the disc-like member together with the annular-flange of the-supporting; member. held therebetween, and support-engaging resilient arms associated with the disc-likemember and adapted to engage an apertured support. to

secure the snap fastener assembly thereto, one of said arms having a hook portion. adjacentsaid disc-like member for hooking engagement with.

the a-pertured support and having its free and directed toward but normally spaced from saidsupporting member toprovide meansfor limiting movement of said one arm upon mounting. said shell support in an apertureof such. a support and the opposing one of said. arms having snap. fastener means including an outwardly. directed portion for engaging an edge of; such an. aperture, an angularly inwardly directed, portion. for sliding camming engagement. with an edge. of. such an aperture, and a shoulder intermediate said inwardly and outwardly directedportions.

3. Asnapfastener assembly comprising a supporting rod-like member havingintermedi'ate, its.

end an annular flange. and an adjacent. portion of irregular cross-sectional shapea disc-like. at.- taching member having an opening corresponding, to the irregularly shaped portion of? the supporting member and mounted. thereon. adjacent one side of said annular flange, a cap member" having an apertured dished portion and mounted on said supporting member with the dished portion in contact with an opposite edgeof the annular flange, means for securing the disc-like member and the cap member together'with the annular flange of the supporting member: held therebetween, and a pair ofsuppoiit-engaging re:- silient-arm elements.associatedwith said; discelike member and adapted. to-engagaan.apertured suprport to secure the shelf support device thereto, one of said arm elements having a curved hooked portion for hooking engagement behind the apertured support adjacent an edge of the aperture therein and having its free end directed toward but normally spaced from said rod-like supporting member for limiting movement of said one arm upon mounting said shelf support upon such apertured support, and the other of said arm elements being disposed opposite said arm element and having a shoulder for engagement behind the apertured support adjacent an opposite edge of an aperture therein and a camming portion for sliding engagement with such opposite edge of such aperture.

4. A shelf support comprising a support-engaging member having a surface for engaging a face of a supporting panel adjacent an aperture therein, a rigid stud portion extending substantially normal to and centrally of said support-engaging surface, a shelf supporting portion extending opposite said stud portion, and resilient support panel-engaging arms extending from said sup-' port-engaging surface on opposite sides of said stud, one of said arms providing a curved portion for hooking engagement :behind the support panel and having its free end portion directed toward but normally spaced from said stud to provide means for limiting movement of said one arm toward the stud upon mounting said shelf support in an aperture of a support panel, and the opposite one of said arms having adjacent the support-engaging surface an outwardly extending portion for snap fastener engagement with an edge of the support aperture and at its free end an angularly inwardly directed portion for resilient sliding camming engagement with the edge of the support aperture.

WILLIAM A. BEDFORD. JR.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,789,126 Aldeen Jan. 13, 1931 1,930,656 Nave Oct. 17, 1933 2,141,892 Wilson Dec. 27, 1938 2,179,604 Tinnerman Nov. 14, 1939 

